What The Good Schools Guide says..

Parents say the school has a ‘warmth’ – and they don’t just mean the buildings. They delight in the enthusiasm and commitment of teachers; one new parent told us that ‘it has rekindled [their son's] love of learning'. Rowing has become a major sport; former pupils have competed in Olympics, including 2012 gold medallist. One parent summed it up for all: ‘nothing is too much trouble'...

What the school says...

Yarm School is a selective, independent day school for boys and girls aged from 3 to 18 years. The school is situated in wooded parkland in the attractive and historic town of Yarm on a beautiful stretch of the River Tees.

The school has recently completed an ambitious redevelopment project which has transformed the school site. Outstanding new accommodation for Mathematics, English, Modern Foreign Languages has been provided as well as an impressive Dining Hall. Other facilities for ICT, Religion and Philosophy and Sixth Form provision have been refurbished and new all-weather sports pitches and a fitness suite built. Additionally, a dance studio, music performance suite and an 800-seat auditorium with riverside terraces and glass Atrium with Costa coffee were completed as a final part of the project. This development won two RIBA design awards in 2013. A brand new Pre-Prep School was completed in 2012 and new facilities added to the Preparatory School. A new Music School will be constructed in 2013/14.

Yarm School results are consistently amongst the best in the area, but the school offers much more than an excellent academic education. We firmly believe in Educating for life, encouraging our boys and girls to discover and develop their many and varied talents, to become caring and tolerant members of society with a strong sense of values and duty. For example, over 60 different activities are offered by teaching staff in activity lessons twice a week which form part of the timetable and range from watersports to rugby, chess to calligraphy and dance to drama.

The School aims to bring out the best in all boys and girls in its care and to give them the best possible all-round education; to build and sustain a friendly, tolerant and supportive community in which all its members are valued equally; to teach pupils to enjoy their education, see it as a lifelong experience and take full advantages of the opportunities on offer, and pursue high personal, social and academic standards; to support pupils in making important career decisions and to prepare them for the challenges and opportunities of adult life; to encourage them to show a sense of responsibility towards the local and wider community; to develop an active and open relationship with parents. It prides itself on helping every boy and girl in its care to fulfil his or her potential.

The Senior School and Preparatory School were rated excellent across the board in their most recent ISI inspection, available through the website (www.yarmschool.org)....Read more

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Curricula

Cambridge Pre-U - an alternative to A levels, with all exams at the end of the two-year course.

Other features

All-through school (for example 3-18 years). - An all-through school covers junior and senior education. It may start at 3 or 4, or later, and continue through to 16 or 18. Some all-through schools set exams at 11 or 13 that pupils must pass to move on.

Sports

Rowing

Fencing

Shooting

What The Good Schools Guide says

Headmaster

Since September 2019, Dr Huw Williams, previously second master at Tonbridge. Studied anatomy and developmental biology at UCL before completing a PhD at Cambridge and the Wellcome Trust. Completed post-doctoral research at the Wellcome Trust and became a Cambridge research. Joined Westminster School to teach biology, becoming an assistant housemaster and then housemaster. He and his wife Laura, a lawyer, have three young children.

Academic matters

The recipe is simple: take cream of the local catchment area, add superb facilities and great, committed teachers and the results speak for themselves. Regularly one of the Sunday Times top two independent secondary schools in the north east on A level results.

After a dip in 2017, A level results up to 53 per cent A*/A, 78 per cent A*-B in 2018. 'We are thrilled...

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Overall school performance (for comparison or review only)

Exam

Results

Independent schools frequently offer IGCSEs or other qualifications alongside or as an alternative to GCSE. The DfE does not record performance data for these exams so independent school GCSE data is frequently misleading; parents should check the results with the schools.

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